The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
Building more homes won’t solve the housing crisis
As long as property is seen as a way of making money, too many houses will be used as second homes, short-lets or simply left empty, argues William Matthews
Planning
News about the planning system in the UK, including permitted development rights, the National Planning Policy Framework, the London Plan and the ‘country house’ clause
Professor Chris Whitty is a powerful advocate for quality housing
Chris Whitty, the most high-profile chief medical officer England has ever had, is pushing the government to prioritise healthy homes and neighbourhoods, explains Julia Thrift
POoR co-founder and ex Hawkins\Brown architect among latest Public Practice cohort
A co-founder of POoR Collective, an ex FCBS and Hawkins\Brown architect and a former United Nations urban planner are among Public Practice’s latest cohort to be placed in local planning roles
Recruitment crisis leaves planners unable to exceed ‘minimum’ duties
Planners say a shortage of staff and skilled specialists is leaving them unable to hit goals beyond the legally required bare minimum, according to a survey by Public Practice
We’re not short of great housing architects. Why isn’t one on the New Towns Taskforce?
The new government must learn the lessons of earlier attempts to build new towns, including the need for design expertise, says Rory Olcayto
RIBA’s Muyiwa Oki reveals ‘uncomfortable truth’ about housebuilding
The RIBA has pointed to an ‘uncomfortable truth’ about the design quality of the nation’s housing in its response to the government’s proposed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) reforms
Labour Conference blog: ‘If the housing minister hadn’t heard of AA4AH before, he has now!’
Three Labour Party Conference attendees reflect on the battle to get architects heard, the battle to deliver decent homes at pace – and the battle of the metro mayor DJs
Government proposes fast-track approvals via ‘brownfield passport’
The new Labour government is looking to introduce a ‘brownfield passport’ to give proposals which meet design and quality standards automatic planning approval
Government asks for your views on retrofit versus demolition
The government is asking architects and others in the industry for their advice on whether it should change national planning rules regarding demolition and retrofit
Historic England warns of ‘severe harm’ from City of London local plan
Historic England has warned that the City of London’s local plan would cause severe harm to heritage assets including St Paul’s and the Tower of London